Savage Lane Read Online Free PDF Page A

dance and then I’ll text you later from golf. Text me if we need anything from Trader Joe’s. See ya later.”
    Deb watched him leave the bedroom.
    Showering, Deb knew time was running out. Yeah, she and Mark had been distant for a long time, but she’d never seen him so detached. Had she pushed him too far? Would it be impossible to get him back?
    Deb got dressed quickly, eager to get to the school and have a talk with Owen. Usually, when she was going to see Owen, she put on one of her nicest lace bras and sexy panties, but today she put on her shabbiest underwear so she wouldn’t feel tempted.
    Then she went to get Justin and saw he was still in his pajamas, playing a video game.
    “What the hell’re you doing? You’re supposed to be getting dressed.”
    She knew she wasn’t just blowing up at Justin, she was blowing up at everything, but she couldn’t help it.
    “Sorry,” Justin said.
    She grabbed the joystick.
    “Hey, give it back,” he said.
    “You have five minutes to get dressed, or I’ll throw it away.”
    Deb went across the hallway into Riley’s room. She was curled in a ball, dead asleep, looking more like a twelve-year-old than a sixteen-year-old.
    “Come on, time to get up,” Deb said.
    Riley’s eyes opened. “What?” She seemed disoriented.
    “Dad’s going to drive you to dance class,” Deb said. “I don’t know why you can’t get up on your own, why I have to be your alarm clock.”
    Deb went downstairs, pulse pounding, and put Justin’s DS on a high shelf in the hallway closet. Fighting off an image of Karen and Mark, holding hands in the Lerners’ backyard last night, she shouted, “Four minutes, I’m warning you!” and then went into the dining room, right to the liquor cabinet, and took out the bottle of Stoli. She knew this wasn’t a good idea, she was being weak, but she needed a drink, one little drink, to steady herself. She poured a half a glass, then added a little more, just for a little extra boost, and gulped it down fast.
    Okay, that was better, she felt more relaxed now, and that was the most important thing, right? She couldn’t put her mistakes behind her and get through this day with so much anxiety.
    “Three minutes!” she yelled, then went to her purse and checked her phone. She saw a new message from Owen: I’m gonna give it to you so good today baby!!!!
    Hating that she was turned on, she deleted the text and did a search for “Amalfi coast vacations.” She scanned the results and clicked on a site that offered a trip of six days, seven nights, including guided tours, at a spectacular-looking resort. Maybe they could do a week in Italy, then a week in Greece. Besides, going away wasn’t a luxury, it was a necessity. They were never going to get their marriage back on track here in Westchester. They had to get away from the routine, the distractions. She loved the kids, but the routine, the sameness of their lives, had ruined them more than anything.
    “One more minute!” she called out.
    She straightened up in the kitchen and made sure Casey was in the house. She was about to announce that time was up when Justin came down, fully dressed but carrying his sneakers.
    “You’re lucky, you just made it,” Deb said.
    They got in her car, Justin in the back seat, and she pulled out of the garage, feeling very buzzed, but it was okay—she could drive.
    “I really, really, really don’t wanna go to the sleepover,” Justin said.
    Deb heard her phone vibrating in her purse, another text from Owen.
    “You’re going,” Deb snapped, “and that’s final.”
    She steered the car onto Savage Lane, thinking that she definitely didn’t want to get into a big discussion with Owen—the shorter, the better. Maybe she’d say, “I’m sorry, it’s over. We can’t see each other anymore.” No build up, just be direct. Or, better, “I’m sorry, it’s over, Owen. We can’t see each other anymore.” Yeah, saying his name would underline it, put her